Diary of Alfred E. Potter October, 1949

01.  Saturday: Took Bill Mauritz to the cottage to complete the woodwork, sanding –buffering with steel wool and then waxing.  We drove out this afternoon with Al Mugerauer, Bill had barely begun sanding.  We all got busy and finished the job in 1 ½ hours.

02.  Sunday: [T] Attended 7³⁰ Hi Mass according to our special intention.  Father Alphonse Wagner Mass offered for us by Mary Ann as an anniversary present.  Auxiliary Bishop Grellinger confers the sacrament of Confirmation at St. Vincents this afternoon.  Thres is sponsor for Arlene (Donald's wife).  Six 4th Degree Knights serve as Honor Guard for the Bishop.  My first experience as such.  Donald - Arlene are over for supper.  They take Mary Ann to the Mode and I work the evening.

Com.  Health - Patience

03.  Monday: Joe Weisheipl Sr. is back to work tonite after three weeks rest and relaxation.  Al Mugerauer starts painting the rooms at the cottage.

04.  Tuesday: To Kiwanis luncheon.  We had quite a round table Al Stillwell – John Markel –Dr. Chuck Behnke –Bud Menzel –Sid Dorfmann – Gordon Mueller and myself.

05.  Wednesday: We finally get around to Fretschl’s to celebrate Ed’s birthday.  The Heips are there.  I hadn’t seen Annie Heips is Donald’s wedding.  Fretschls show us some lousy television.  Annie Heip tells us that Marion received a 390 dollar bonus at the bank.  We are home at 1¹⁵ A.M.  Joe Heip is feeling much better and looks very good.

06.  Thursday: Art Mueller is home for the day.  It may be a cold.  This is a day of rain.  Drove to the cottage this afternoon, caught 2 mice in the traps.  Ralph Klieforth resigns from the police and fire commission.  Served about 10 years and president since May 1942.  Joe Blechl passed away suddenly in the court house about 11 Oclock this morning.  Born April 19 – 1896

07.  Friday: Al Mugerauer paints the kitchen in the cottage.  That is about all he’ll do this year.  May do some more in spring.  Temperature is up to 82° today.

08.  Saturday: Out to the cottage this afternoon, no luck with the traps.  This morning had Donald help me, get our stock in order in the upstairs of the house.  Finished at 4 Oclock this afternoon.  This evening to the Mode.  Two good technicolor pictures “Fiesta” stars Esther Williams “This Time for Keeps” also stars Esther Williams –Jimmy Durante, also showed 5 color cartoons and thats 4 too many.

09.  Sunday: [T] To 7³⁰ St. Vincents Holy Name Monsignor Bastian – Sermon Father Dennis Bouche.  Then to work.  This afternoon to the cottage cleaned the back room.  The weather is like summer 82° this evening back to work, to complete orders.  Could not get Bob Kniss until 10.45.  Mary was calling her sister in Chicago whose little girl contracted polio while here on vacation three years ago.  She is now eleven years of age still in a respirator.  Also paid last respects to Joe Bloechl at Poklasny this afternoon. 

2 M.O. Joe Bloechl. 

Com. Dec.  Members H.N.

10.  Monday: Rose Weisheipl has another birthday, of which she does’nt care to talk about, she is 38.  Lill Wagner (Mrs. Bill) had an unfortunate accident this evening on Oak Street.  A boy about 9 or 10 darting into the road was hit by her car and seriously injured.

11.  Tuesday: To Kiwanis luncheon.  Harry Hannish - John Markel - Gordon Mueller - Dick Rutledge and self.  Bud Foster coach at U.W. spoke enlightened us about workings of sports at Universities.  Thres is up to Dr. Ware for impressions for lower set.  Thres –Mary Ann and self visited Clara Lemke – Room 148 Anna Frank 216 Mercy.  Had quite a visit with Ruth Mace of the Gray Ladies.  My old office is being torn out of the store today.  To the cottage, 2 more mice.  Myron Mueller struck by Mrs. Wagner’s car died last night at 10.20.  Five doctors worked on him trying to save his life.  He was born Jan. 14, 1939.  Fifth grade student Longfellow school.  Only child of Mr. Mrs. Gilbert Mueller Grove St.

12.  Wednesday: To the cottage this afternoon did some cleaning up.  This evening to K.C. banquet at the Legion Club House.  Judge Aaron Murphy of Kewaunee County principal speaker.  Charles Barnard toastmaster.  Harold Kuettner did a magic act program.  Dwain Vanderhoof and W^m Trickel pantomime the comic songs.  They took the house.  Dancing at 10⁰⁰ Ma and I called it a day without dancing.

13.  Thursday: Another trip to the cottage more cleaning.  Bill Mauritz picked up one of our beds last night.  Too large for our new room.  Quite a number of ducks out our way.  Tomorrow will be bad news for them.  Hunting season opens at noon.  Mary Ann spends the day at Mandy Drexler.  The ladies learn how to play bridge rummy to the tune of 1²⁰.  She’d better win next time.  She attends the Mode in the evening.

14.  Friday: [T] Hunting season opens this noon.  Drove out about 4³⁰.  Hunters are coming in.  Our Neighbor Pete Geffers and Floyd have limits.  Two large flocks of geese fly over about 5 Oclock, a little too high but the hunters try a few shots, no luck.

15.  Saturday: Bill Mauritz is out to the cottage this afternoon to do some painting and trimmed two apple trees.  Thres and Mary Ann

16.  Sunday: To 7³⁰ Hi Mass, Father Wagner then to work.  Mae Doran, Rexall Beauty Specialist, is in town.  I meet with her tonite at the North Store, she tells me she has not been here for 16 years. 

Com.  Joe Blechl

17.  Monday: Another lovely day.  Norm Brown is in town.  Took Loretta and Virginia to Raulf Hotel.  Cleo – Vivian – Adeline are there also.  Miss Doran entertains them at a business luncheon.  Ruth (Trokel) Dickfuss is in town, with a line of Religious articles.  Her husband Don and little four year old daughter are with her.  Thres is at Dr. Ware’s tonite, stopped in to meet Ruth, we did not finish our business until 11.15 tonite.  That makes 12 hours of work for me today.

18.  Tuesday: Norm Brown called when I was gone that his father in law Joseph Plank passed away.  Sent flowers from Miles Company.  Joe is at Brettschneider’s Funeral Home.  To Kiwanis luncheon Henry Zentner and self share a table. Fred Leist is putting on a program with his Naughty Marietta cast.  Took apples out to Heip’s they in turn gave us hickory nuts.  Emma Siewert is here for supper and the nite.  To Perpetual Help Devotion. 

5 M.O. Joe Plank.

19.  Wednesday: [TEG] Today is a busy day, both at the store and it home.  This afternoon Thres and self to Brettschneider’s Appleton to pay our last respects to Joseph J. Plank.  Norm Brown is there with his family.  Met Sybell’s brother Bud.  Took Norm’s children back home to Neenah.  At home attended Emmanuel Church Dinner.  Met many folks we knew.  They sold about 800 tickets at 1.25 each.  Not bad.  Thres and Mary Ann played cards at St. Vincents tonight.  Catholic Daughters, Sponsor.  Mary Ann get Duzz, Ma gets nothing. 

5 M.O.

20.  Thursday: To Appleton to attend Joe Plank’s funeral service at St. Joseph’s Church.  Met Bill Kies and John Bolger.  This afternoon H.W. “Tommy” Adkins and Walter Lange dropped in to see me.  This evening took in dinner meeting with Milwaukee Chamber of Commerce members at Raulf Hotel.  Tommy Adkins is the main speaker.  Mama Potter gets a set of new teeth today.  Made by Dr. Ware.

21.  

22.  Saturday: Somewhat cooler this morning about 42°.  Worked only 5 ½ hours today.  This evening the A Capella Choir (Hi School) presents “Naughty Marietta” Comic Opera.  Ned Blood – Ronald Dawson –Dick Verduin have leading parts.  Dorita Meixl is “Naughty Marietta” she does splendid as also Mary Kontra, a slave.  Joyce Koch is very good as Lizette.  All in all it was a grand play by a grand cast.  Met Dr. Haines, Joe and Mary Fenzl.

23.  Sunday: To 7³⁰ Mass, Monsignor Bastian, then to work.  Took in the air show at our airport this afternoon and it was really cold out there, but it was worth it seeing Bombers - Jet Planes - Navy Planes and Whittman and Brennand put on stunts.  Back to work this evening in when I get home Harry and Agnes are here from Berlin, and a nice big pheasant came along with them and landed in our refrigerator. 

Com.  Matt Baier

24.  Monday: Norman Brown made his usual call.  Almost forgot, this is Aunt Mary’s birthday, she is 76.  We cut the cake this noon.  This evening to Fourth Degree K.C. dinner meeting at the Athearn.  Father Reul is the principal speaker about getting a fund started for a new Catholic Hi School.  Father Wagner, Father Murphy – Father Bouche also attend.  After the meeting had Father Wagner over to our house for short visit then over to Kelly Ottos for some sheephead with Ed Wirtz – and ____ Pitz.  To bed at 2 A.M.

25.  Tuesday: Almost got to Kiwanis luncheon with Ken Siperski, we landed at the Town Grill, had a very nice meal.  This evening to Recreation Center to hear Edward Berryman put on organ concert for Civic Music Association Members.  After the concert to St Vincents Gym for a party given for the workers who helped paint the Sisters home and the Church basement.  Had a letter from Arthur H. Mueller (T and S. Tobacco Co.).  He is at Palm Springs Committee Hospital, Palm Springs, Calif. with a broken back.  He is still in a cast.

26.  Wednesday: [T] Took a drive to the cottage this afternoon.  Brought in a few necessary items.  Tonite Joe Annie Heip –Thres and Ed Fretschl are over to celebrate Aunt Mary’s birthday.  They stay until 1⁴⁰ A.M.  Cork Weisheipl is here for short visit.  Had a long distance conversation with Bob Patience of Chicago, Kelling Nut representative.  He’s all set to put in our new Kelling Nut Stand.  He tells me, he’s an Appleton boy.

27.  Thursday: Not very peppy today.  Rev. Marlin Smith tells me he forgot about Kiwanis the other day, all on account of a new baby boy in the family.  He is pastor of the Tenth St. Methodist Church.  Attended city wide Holy Name Banquet at St. Peters with Donald. Matt Mertz and Chuck Nolan are my side-kicks.  Father Theodosius Foley of Mont Alverno Retreat House was the principal speaker.  His talk was based on Truthfulness – Justice and Charity.  Mary Ann at Matt Drexlers today.

28.  Friday: Forty hours devotion begins at St. Vincents today.  Last nights Northwestern carried the news that Father W^m Reul had been made a Papal Chamberlain – A Right Reverend Monsignor.

29.  Saturday: To 7 Oclock Mass, Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament.  This afternoon we put on storm windows at home and also at the cottage.  Donald and Billy Mauritz help.  Edward Voelz moves back into the old Voelz homestead at 408 South Park Ave. where he was born over 65 years ago.  Gustie his sister had been living in it for years.  She was Mrs. W^m Stocum.  Joe and Annie Weisheipl are married 43 years today. 

Com.  Improved Health.

30.  Sunday: To 7³⁰ Hi Mass.  Father Wagner.  Then to work.  Mary Ann is also helping out this morning.  Had orders ready for mailing at 5³⁰.  The house is very cold and I am pretty well frozen after hours of writing.  This evening served as the 4th Degree Honor Guard with Ben Sisnewski –Leo Girens – John Hable –Jack Cavage. 

Com.  Improved Health.

31.  Monday: Drove to Fond du Lac after work tonite with Fred Baumgartner – Joe Baier –Art Mueller to look at Cash Registers.  They run into money these days.  Home again at 1¹⁵ A.M. Tuesday.